IT was a scene straight from Fawlty Towers.

The only difference was that, where eccentric hotelier Basil Fawlty lashed his unresponsive car with a branch, drink-fuelled Rory McCallum gave his motor “a damn good thrashing” wielding an axe in Thurso.

When that failed to persuade the car to start, he went off and consoled himself with more drink, Wick Sheriff Court was told yesterday.

McCallum, 39, admitted a breach of the peace and will be sentenced next month.

Sheriff Andrew Berry was told that police were told that McCallum, was striking his car with an axe and when the found, McCallum, of Thurso, told officers: “It was my car”.

He will be sentenced next month.